What Is a 51% Attack in a Proof of Work System?
A 51% attack is a potential attack on a blockchain where a single entity or group controls more than 50% of the network's mining hash rate. This control would allow them to prevent new transactions from gaining confirmations, and they could also reverse transactions that they sent while in control.
This would enable them to double-spend coins. However, they would not be able to create new coins or alter old blocks.
The immense cost of acquiring and operating the necessary hardware makes a 51% attack on a major blockchain like Bitcoin highly impractical.
Glossar
Proof of Work
Challenge ⎊ The core of Proof of Work (PoW) lies in computationally intensive puzzles designed to validate transactions and secure a blockchain network.
Economic Consequences
Impact ⎊ The economic consequences arising from cryptocurrency, options trading, and financial derivatives represent a complex interplay of systemic risk, regulatory arbitrage, and evolving market structures.